B.C. publisher Caitlin Press wants to reassure parents that there are childrenB次元官网网址檚 books that donB次元官网网址檛 conform to gender stereotypes.
The Halfmoon Bay-based company reached out the Gazette following a story about a .
The books, with one labelled for boys and the other for girls, showed male characters how to build compasses and prepare for hikes, while girls were taught how to knit and cook.
Caitlin Press publisher Vici Johnstone said that, while society has come a long way when it comes to these stereotypes, there is still work to be done and that many consumers still expect their characters to fit into certain archetypes.
B次元官网网址淭o come to the defence of authors and publishers, I think thereB次元官网网址檚 still an expectation there in our society that girls should be pretty and that they should be preparing to raise a family, and yet the exact opposite is happening,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淥ur goal as a publisher is to try and balance that a little bit.B次元官网网址�
The companyB次元官网网址檚 mandate is to publish books that reflect B.C.B次元官网网址檚 diverse cultures and is committed to its origins as a feminist literary press. Johnstone said that the company strives for gender neutrality when it comes to its authors and the stories they tell.
While Caitlin has only published a few childrenB次元官网网址檚 books, Johnstone hopes that can change in the future and sheB次元官网网址檚 evidently proud of the kidsB次元官网网址� books that she has printed. Those include AlisonB次元官网网址檚 Fishing Birds, a story by renowned B.C. author Roderick Haig-Brown that was first published posthumously in 1980 because publishers of the day didnB次元官网网址檛 think there was a market for it given its female protagonist.
Alison spends much of her time outdoors and encounters some of B.C.B次元官网网址檚 varied birds along the way and shows a strong sense of environmental responsibility.
Johnstone says the story, which is illustrated by Sheryl McDougald, has been a hit with parents and kids.
B次元官网网址淚 think itB次元官网网址檚 always a matter of getting it into the right hands B次元官网网址� weB次元官网网址檝e had lots of feedback from the people who have bought it and their children and they love it,B次元官网网址� she said.
Another book, titled Dipnetting with Dad, focuses on a father and son relationship, but includes female characters that also fish and chop wood.
B次元官网网址淭he shift is that, 20 years ago, nobody would have even thought twice about the different roles that girls play and boys play,B次元官网网址� Johnstone said. B次元官网网址淚 think thereB次元官网网址檚 still some of that out there, but I think the publishers and writers and producers are very much thinking now that we have to at least acknowledge that thereB次元官网网址檚 a broadening of that.B次元官网网址�
Johnstone pointed to Orca Books, Tradewind Books and Arsenal Pulp Press as other B.C. publishers who are striving to tell progressive stories.
joel.tansey@goldstream
